Marya at the BAX Arts & Artists in Progress Awards 2015

My Dance Week: October 4-11, 2017

Wednesday, October 4

Woke up way too early and tried to go back to sleep, but no luck. It was dark out. Got up and fed the dog and the cat and lay down for a bit. Got up and made coffee. Took dog out for a short walk and came back. Sat on couch, drank coffee, read the NY Times (which I still get delivered), and answered some emails. Looked at FB. Had some more coffee and then started to exercise adding some new ways of doing things and new exercises taught to me yesterday by a trainer I am working with. Trying to counteract some affects from spine curvature and also up my game a little. I’ve exercised regularly my whole life but need to change it up every once in a while. Also ordered some new weights and bands this am and remembered to link our Amazon account to BAX’s Amazon smile.

Tried to organize my day in my head in a way that included a short rest in the afternoon (not enough sleep). My partner and I moved some furniture so that she could vacuum our old rug to give to a friend this weekend. Left for work but took myself out to breakfast on the way. Wrote and answered a dozen more emails while I was eating.

At Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX): called Shubert Foundation to ask them to consider a different kind of proposal. Met with Artist Services Manager Teri-Anne about space needs for AIRs, plus conversations about some new staffing structures that relate to her leave-taking at the end of the month, and planning her week to accomplish a few errands out of the building. Met with other staff to discuss upcoming Submerge Festival and seating. The venue we are working with has limited seating, which affects our comp policy. Emailed with our Board about a new Board member and the upcoming Board racial justice training, as well as a separate workshop for our white Board members in advance.

Took down the growing number of handmade signs for our yard sale fundraiser made by a super enthusiastic young student, but they were everywhere!!!

Exchanged information with the NYC Community Engagement Partnership about an upcomg candidates' forum.

Tried to figure out when we could go and visit our granddaughter (and her family) in Williamstown, Ma.

Appointment in the Village and picked up some food for dinner. We ate and talked about Puerto Rico…periodically watching an episode of Law & Order, which I can’t remember even a day later!

Thursday, October 5

Woke up too early again and pretty much the same as yesterday, but stayed gentle with the exercise.

Heard from an artist I had hoped to feature in our March AIR celebration, that she has a dress rehearsal scheduled for that night. Disappointed and back to dreaming up a “certain feeling." Short meeting with closest colleagues VA and FM about a variety of topics including some challenging interpersonal situations.

And then off to have brunch with Sheila Lewandowski. Great meal at one of SL’s favorites, Café Henri in LIC. Talked about properties, leases, organizations, relationships and ourselves. I love when I make the time to do this. I get so much from it, and it feeds me.

Home – Jane and I moved furniture. Laid out our new rug, which I love. Made poached sole, first time, turned our very well.

Talked about recent “working group” meeting on Disability at BAX and some comments that needed to be followed up on. Looked at calendar for some upcoming travel. Spoke to our younger son Malcolm about pros and cons of preschool center for our grandaughter.

Read email from the Emma Sheafer Foundation that was so complimentary about our recent final report. It’s nice to be acknowledged that way sometimes. We work hard.

Friday, October 6

Same early a.m. but back to more rigorous exercise.

More conversation about specific preschool. Got to BAX; lots of emails about March celebration. SL will serve as Honorary Chair – thrilled. Schedule for video with originating AIR’s George Emilio Sanchez, Reggie Wilson, Martha Bowers and Dean Moss is coming together. Grateful to Nathan Elbogen at the Can Factory for letting us use the space as there’s NO space at BAX that day.

Lots of moving parts. One staff member who wants more remote time but also wants to maintain her stability. Another leaving to take advantage of some new opportunities/combining positions, adding a new one. Giving youth education its own marketing/communication focus/person. Will this work? Is there enough training and ramp up time? Do we have enough work stations? Do we need another Mac computer? There’s lots of potential here but also some potential jackpots. Now trying to fill in a couple of events that are already set that need some alternative staffing based on these changes.

It’s beautiful out and summery…

Saturday, October 7

Early a.m. ditto.

Lots of errands. Met with a former AIR in the afternoon and caught up with him. It had been over a year since we saw each other. New job for him, relationship. He said he would like to connect with BAX more, and we brainstormed a number of ideas about how he could. Talked a lot about how my year (last year) in St Louis went in relationship to my ED role at BAX and what worked and what was hard.

Show at JACK in the evening.

Sunday, October 8

Early a.m. ditto, but also saw my spouse off for the week.

Looong phone meeting with artist advisors Nia Love and Abby Browde. Covered outstanding issues from last season, talked about the newly formed Working Group on Disability Justice at BAX and what could come from it and the relationship to the other social justice work that is ongoing. Reviewed our own internal communications and looked at the calendar for the next couple of months. Talked about each current AIR and what’s up with them. Exciting. Set a meeting with Nia specifically about her Racial Equity advising for BAX later in the week.

Read through the new descriptions for staffing (see Friday) and feel ready to talk about them tomorrow when we all convene again.

Had a long facetime talk with my sister in CA. Both personal and some work she’s involved in that led to seeing a play that had been called racist and objectionable to some racial justice activists in her area. We talked about censoring vs making sure that whether it’s a play or a curriculum it doesn’t oppress. Trying to figure out a time for an in person visit later this fall.

Monday, October 9

Early a.m… (ditto). I am  a creature of habit!

Indigenous Peoples Day or, in NYC, Columbus Day – Had a great phone meeting with our Development Manager Morgan about the March Gala celebration. She had some terrific ideas and ways to approach performances that I really appreciated. Spoke with a friend/colleague about some hiring that she’s doing for another non profit cultural.

Tonight are the Bessies. Looking forward to celebrating Mikki Shepard who has been an important person in my life, and happy that Maurine Knighton and Dianne McIntyre will be part of that, two other people in our world I like and admire so much. In addition, two brilliant women who have contributed so much to dance are being honored with Bessie Awards for their visions: Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and Eva Yaa Asantewaa. And, among the many nominees for a Bessie in performance is the historic assembly of 21 black womyn and gender nonconforming dancer/choreographers, several who have done significant work at BAX, who did a one-night-only, 2-hour improvisation curated by Eva last year called We, Skeleton Architecture.

Tuesday, October 10

Last night’s Bessies were spectacular. I was so happy to be able to celebrate Mikki Shepard, who I have known since the late 80s, and who has had a huge influence on me. Loved that Maurine Knighton (who I met through Mikki and who served as BAX’s Board President), and Dianne McIntyre (who I’ve known since her days with Gus Solomons) spoke about her and presented her with her award. And THEN BAX’s current AIR Maria Bauman, current Artist & Racial Equity Advisor Nia Love, former AIR’s Ni’Ja Whitson, Marjani Forte, Paloma McGregor, staff member Melanie Greene and faculty member Angie Pittman all are part of the ensemble of We, Skeleton Architecture curated by Eva Yaa Asantewaa – that WON!!!!!!! Great and inspiring awards to Eva and lifetime achievement to Jawole. It was a momentous night.

More work on our AIR/25 celebration – heading out to meet with a funder about potential support.

Participated with the white members of BAX’s Board at a member’s home, and we were joined by members of Breaking White Silence (BWS). This session was created to provide some experience and context for members to think about their roles and responsibilities as white vs POC members as we embark on a shared Racial Justice training with two other non profits next week. It was scary for some, but all around important, and I feel grateful that everyone made a full evening commitment and showed up.

Wednesday, October 11

Excited that Mikki Shepard will serve as honorary co-chair of our gala next March with Sheila Lewandowski. These two women mean a lot to me, and their support and partnership is so valuable.

Spent some time responding and re-posting about our AIR Dan Fishback’s newest work RUBBLE, RUBBLE which was to have a reading at the American Jewish Historical Society in December. They cancelled it, caving to a right-wing smear campaign that attacked Dan for his non-violent support of Palestinian human rights. This is devastating on a personal and political level and I (and BAX) will do whatever we can to assist.

Met with AIR Luciana Achugar and spoke about the Pleasure Project, possible support from other organizations, and her current studio practice. I love this woman and her work.

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Related posts:

My Arts Admin Week: Lucia Scheckner, Education Director at BAX

Blog Series: Becoming an Arts Administrator

Artist Profile: Reggie Wilson

Artist Profile: Paloma McGregor

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